Queensland’s First Small Bar Open For Business

The first business in Queensland to sell liquor under the authority of the newly created ‘Bar Licence’ was Inspire Gallery & Bar, Vulture Street, West End.

As the name suggests, Inspire Gallery & Bar combines an art gallery with a bar and the business owners, Jacqui Hannam and Marcel Gerstel, plan to showcase the best of local art in an intimate bar setting.

The Liquor Act describes the principal activity of a Bar Licence as:

S.70(1)The principal activity of a business conducted under a bar licence is the sale of liquor on the licensed premises having the capacity to seat not more than 60 patrons at any one time.

During the processing of the application by Inspire Gallery & Bar the Office of Liquor & Gaming Regulation proposed the following conditions be placed on the licence:

The licensee and approved manager must ensure that seating is provided for not more than 60 patrons at any one time within the licensed premises.

The licensee and approved manager must ensure that no more than 80 patrons whether seated or othewise are on the licensed premises at any one time.

However, the final approval contained the following, more restrictive, condition:

The licensee and approved manager must ensure that no more than 60 patrons whether seated or othewise are on the licensed premises at any one time.

It appears this will be a standard condition on all Bar Licences.

It is unfortunate that OLGR have chosen this direction but we are working with them to achieve a more flexible application of this policy in the future. We will update this website with any further developments.